Listing



Jan. 26, 1937. o. F. GRAEBNER LISTING Filed June 20, 1936 INVENTOR OO F Graezer:

y ATTORNEYS.

BY E Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LISTING of Delaware Application June 20, 1936, Serial No. 86,301

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to listing. More particularly it relates to a novel form of listing strip primarily adapted for use in automobile convertible tops for the purpose of accurately positioning the top material with respect to a bow of the top.

It has long been well appreciated that considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in securing listing to convertible top fabrics in such a manner that the top material is accurately positioned With respect to the bow over which it is stretched, and at the same time providing a connection between the bow and the top material which is leakproof. In convertible top constructions, it is essential that the top material be stretched smoothly between the bows over which it passes and it is consequently necessary to provide means secured to the top material for accurately positioning it with respect to the bows with which it is associated.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a listing strip which is simple in construction, easily applied to the top material, and likewise easily secured in position with respect to the bow.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a listing strip which may be conveniently secured to either a tubular metallic bow or to a conventional wood bow member.

Yet another objectv of the present invention resides in the construction of a listing strip which is adapted for adhesive securement to the inner side of the top fabric in such a manner that the forces applied at this point of securement will be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the secured area.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the construction of a convertible top in which the listing is permanently secured to the top material in such a manner that the normal resistance of the topi material to the passage of rain and foreign matter is in no way impaired.

Many other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the following specication when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional automobile having a convertible top embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View, taken through one of the intermediate bows of the top shown in Fig. l, illustrating the manner in which the listing is secured to both the top material and to the bow;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fragmentary section of the improved listing strip, illustrating in detail the manner in which the listing is formed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View, similar to Figure 2, illustrating the improved listing strip applied to a wood bow.

With more particular reference to the drawing, it will be seen that the invention is illustrated in connection with a conventional automobile body. However, it will clearly be appreciated that the broad concept presented herein will nd wide and practical utility in many and various other installations.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, Figure 1 discloses an automobile body 5 having a convertible top 6 of substantially conventional exterior appearance and including the features of the present invention. As is conventional in constructions of this general character, the top material includes a pair of sections of woven fabric 'l and 8 which are substantially coextensive in extent and are secured together by means of a suitable water resistant adhesive. The top material thus provided is relatively heavy and provides a unitary sheet, which is highly resistant to water. In order that the top material will be impervious to water even after considerable exposure and fiexing of the material, it is virtually essential that the layer of waterproof cement, which adhesively secures these two sections making up the top material together, be maintained intact. It has been found that if nails or tacks are driven through this material, this adhesive water resistant layer between the two sections of fabric is punctured and consequently an aperture is provided which eventually creates a leak at this point. The amount of water passing through such leak is in the main negligible but it has been found that as rusting of the nail or tack takes place, increasing amounts of water are admitted, and if, as has been conventional in the past, the nails or tacks are driven into wood bow members, the entrance of even a small amount of moisture at this point tends to rot the wood and greatly aggravate the damage. It has also been found that stitching the top material serves to puncture this impervious layer of water resistant cement and provide tiny apertures through which water may enter.

As is conventional, the top construction shown is provided with a bow 9, which may be of suitable tubular metallic construction having any desired cross-sectional configuration. While an intermediate bow has been illustrated in the enlarged views shown in the drawing, it will readily be appreciated that the novel features of the present invention will find equal utility when used in connection with any of the bow members making up the top. As is desired in constructions of this kind, a strip of listing is utilized for the purpose of mounting the top material with respect to the bow 9. This listing is formed of a strip of fabric material Ii] which is sufficiently long to extend from one of the lateral sides of the top to the other. A relatively wide portion II of this strip of listing is adapted for securement to the top material in the manner hereinafter described in detail.

The edges on either of the sides of the portion I I are preferably reversely folded to provide areas of triple thickness at each of the sides of the portion II and these sections of triple thickness are iiXed to the portion II by means of longitudinally extending lines of stitching I2. It will be noted that the lines of stitching I2 are located along points spaced substantially inwardly from the marginal edges of the portion I I and the importance of this feature will be more fully appreciated hereinafter. The marginal edges I4 and I5 of the listing strip are preferably of unequal width in order that as these marginal edges are stretched around the bow 9 they may be conveniently stitched together at a point I6 on the rear side of the bow, consequently hiding the seam between these two members and presenting an attractive exterior finish appearance to the bow.

The entire surface of the portion I I of the listing strip is adhesively secured by means of a laye1' of waterproof rubber cement I8 to the interior surface of the top material. The edge portions I4 and I5 are wrapped tightly around the rear bow and secured together by means of the stitching I6.

It will be appreciated that any forces tending to separate the top material from the bow will be transmitted to the adhesive material I8 through the lines of stitching I2. It will also be appreciated that inasmuch as these lines of stitching are located at points substantially inwardly from the marginal edges of the portion I I that the edge portions will not be subjected to any undue strain and that forces tending to separate the top material from the listing strip will be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the area of adhesive securement. This feature is thought to be a particularly important part of the present invention.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure ll, it is seen that a section of top material 20 of conventional double thickness is provided and a listing strip substantially identical with that shown in Figure 3 has a portion II thereof adhesively secured to the top material 2U by means of a layer of rubber cement 2l. In this form of the invention, a wooden bow member 22 is utilized and it will be seen that the edge portions III and I5 of the listing strip may be conveniently stretched around the bow member 22 and secured thereto by means of tacks 23. It will be appreciated that in this form, substantially the same beneficial results outlined above are obtained.

In the construction shown herein, it will be appreciated that the listing strip is conveniently formed from a single section of fabric material. It will be further appreciated that the manner in which this listing strip is secured to the top material is such that the possibility of leaks occurring at this point is virtually precluded. Further it will be appreciated that the particular construction of the listing strip provides a relatively large area for adhesive securement of the listing strip to the top material and provides a construction in which forces tending to separate these two members are substantially uniformly distributed throughout a relatively wide area.

The above described forms of the invention are merely illustrative of the generic inventive concepts presented in this application. Many other and further modifications thereof falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A listing strip adapted for use in top constructions comprising a single section of fabric material having parallel sections thereof folded upon itself and stitched to provide parallel areas of a plurality of thicknesses and projecting edges adapted for securement to the bow of said top.

2. A listing strip comprising a portion adapted to be secured to the fabric of a vehicle top and portions adapted to be secured to the bow of said top stitched to said rst mentioned portion inwardly of the edges thereof.

3. A listing strip adaptable for use in vehicle tops comprising a portion adapted to be adhesively secured to the inner surface of the top material, and portions adapted for securement around a bow of said top stitched to said first mentioned portion along substantially parallel lines inwardly disposed from the marginal edges of said secured portions.

4. A listing strip comprising a section of fabric material having a portion thereof adapted for adhesive securement to a top, projecting edges of said portion stitched thereto adapted for securement to the bow of said top.

5. In a convertible top construction for vehicle bodies, top material, a bow, a listing strip having a portion adhesively secured to said top material and portions adapted to engage said bow stitched to said first mentioned portions.

6. In a convertible top construction for vehicle bodies, top material, a bow, a listing strip having a portion adhesively secured to said top material and portions adapted to engage said bow stitched to said rst mentioned portion along lines substantially inwardly from the marginal edges thereof.

7. In a convertible top construction for vehicle bodies, top covering material, a bow, a strip of listing for positioning said top material with vrespect to said bow, said listing strip having a portion adhesively secured to the inner surface of said top throughout a relatively wide area, and portions adapted to engage said bow stitched to said rst mentioned portion along lines substantially inwardly from the edges of said area of securement.

8. In a convertible top construction for automotive vehicles, top covering material, a bow, and a listing strip for positioning said top material with respect to said bow, said listing strip being folded upon itself and stitched together, a portion thereof being adhesively secured to said top material, the lines of stitching being disposed substantially inwardly of the edges of said adhesively secured portions and means for securing the strip in engagement with said bow.

OTTO F. GRAEBNER. 

